THREE FACTORS IN EDUCATION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3059, 21 April 1917, Page 5

THREE FACTORS IN EDUCATION

THE CHILD, THE PABJENT, AND THE TEACHER.. Before the Wellington branch of the Now Zealand Educational Institute last ovcuing Br. Ada Patterson delivered 11 highly interesting and instructive address on the importanco of the preservation of health and the physical training of children in their scliool days, i She said that the whole object of education was to enable children to enter the battle of life physically sonnd, with minds clear, nerves steady, and with a. high sense of duty in the management both of their own affairs and those of the State. That being so, it was of value to note the quality of the raw material for citizenship which filled tho benches of the schools. Children wero school children for only five out of tho twenty-four hours, and were subject to powerful influences from 'which school life was a thing apart. The character of the homo and their parents, the ambitions they possessed, the material benefits provided', tlie quantity and quality of the food and clothing, tho amount of air space in bedrooms, length of sleeping time, amusements, and demands for work were each and all factors in tho moulding of tho character of ,the child, and were tlie foundations upon which tlie school had to build. Thus it was evident that for the correction of many defects found: in school children tlie i intelligent co-operation of the parents was essential. Nevertheless, the daily five hours of school life were of tremendous importance for that complex being, the modern child, -who was nothing if not impressionable —and to have continuous control of them when their minds were most . receptive and their bodies most plastic was a great responsibility. The lecturer hero traced the course of the development of education since the end of the Napoleonic wars, and the changes which had gradually come about in tho system leading up to the medical examination of children. There was a good opportunity in New Zealand for controlling the health of tho children, in a young and fertile country, untrammelled by poverty and 1 descended from good, hardy stock. Describing what she had' found in her daily routine in the medical inspection of school-children, Dr. Patterson said that taking the children as a whole the standard of cleanliness on the day of the visit was found satisfactory in tho great majority of cases. Attention to details, as tho cleaning of teeth, hands, and finger-nails, was often insufficient. Verminous conditions of the body were rare. "Pediculosis capitas (head lice) was much more frequent, probably about 4 per cent. In many schools tho evil wa.s nonexistent, iu others it was a plague. Many teachers deserved great credit for their efforts to eradicate that condition by constant supervision and instruction. The difficulty was that the worst cases often came from infected homes, where treatment was regarded as superfluous and ro-infection readily occurred. Clothing as a rulo was fairly clean and sufficient. Nearly _ every school had a minority of the insufficiently clad; many others were_ much ovor-clothed, small children being so imprisoned in layerß of clothing that free movement was almost impossible. The usual school dress for girls lacked simplicity, and limited movement. The adoption of a gymnastic costume, modified of necessity for street wear, would be an advantago. Footgear, especially for bad weather, was often inadequate in otherwise well-dressed children. Country schools invariably had grasscovered grounds,' and it was tho rule, rather than tho exception, to find children with wot foot-gear throughout the school hours. Nutrition was good or normal in 84.6 per cent., Mid it was unsatisfactory or bad in 15 per cent. iTho worst cases of malnutrition were as a rule either from slum,areas in- town or remote country districts. Skin diseases occurred in tho percentage of 3.7. Scabies ifras by far the commonest form of disease. Impetigo, ringworm, and psoriasis were mot with less frequently. . Defective teeth occurred in 68.8 per cent, of tho whole; enlarged glands occurred in 61.6 percent. ; external eye disease in 1.6 per cent.; defective vision in 8.8 per cent.; defective hearing in 4.3 per cent.: and defective speech in 1.7 per cent, (more common iu boys than girls). Owing to the varying standard at different schools, it was difficult to estimate the amount of mental defect. A census taken in 17 schools iu 1912 gave an average of 4 per cent. Dr. Patterson entered very fully into other complaints and defects that were troublesome in . and gave a great deal of information bearing upon their physical and mental well-being. "Think of the large number of children," said the • speaker, "who never attain their maximum of well-being and efficiency. Does it'not make us pause and think what is our object with regard to these children? Consider, too, how much educational energy must be worse than wasted under present conditions. Had it not been better before teaching a child te read to be sure that ho sees properly, and that he breathes properly? And'would it not be better before teaching him drawing and' brush work to be sure that lie can perform the elementary acts of correct walking and sitting?" At the conclusion of the address Dr. Patterson was given a very hearty vote of thanks.